A pipeline strainer having a body with a straining element therein. A cleaning tool is disposed in the body to dislodge debris from the straining element. The debris may be removed from the body through a debris drain. The cleaning tool comprises a portion within the body and a portion outside of the body. A handle may comprise the portion outside of the body.

A flow restriction system is provided for restricting fluid flow through a pipe. The flow restriction system includes an anchor and an inflatable plug. The anchor includes an inflation conduit, a head, and a foot. The inflation conduit has a first end, a second end, and a passage. The second end is opposite the first end. The passage extends from the first end toward the second end. The head is coupled to the first end of the inflation conduit. The head includes an opening in fluid communication with the passage. The foot is coupled to the second end of the inflation conduit. The inflatable plug is coupled to the anchor. The inflatable plug includes an interior chamber. The interior chamber is in fluid communication with the passage. The head and the foot are configured to engage diametrically opposed sections of the pipe.

A flow restriction system is provided for restricting fluid flow through a pipe. The flow restriction system includes an anchor and an inflatable plug. The anchor includes an inflation conduit, a head, and a foot. The inflation conduit has a first end, a second end, and a passage. The second end is opposite the first end. The passage extends from the first end toward the second end. The head is coupled to the first end of the inflation conduit. The head includes an opening in fluid communication with the passage. The foot is coupled to the second end of the inflation conduit. The inflatable plug is coupled to the anchor. The inflatable plug includes an interior chamber. The interior chamber is in fluid communication with the passage. The head and the foot are configured to engage diametrically opposed sections of the pipe.

The invention relates to a non-crosslinked natural rubber latex composition for an inflatable stopper comprising a homogeneous mixture of: a) natural rubber latex; b) a surfactant; c) an amine based chemical antiozonant; d) possibly ammonia and preferably e) single or double wall electrically conductive nanotubes. The invention furthermore relates to an ozone resistant inflatable stopper comprising non-crosslinked natural rubber latex and fiber reinforcement, the rubber having an ozone resistance according to ISO 1431/1 at 50 pphm concentration ozone at 23±2° C., for the time frame of 48 hours, atmospheric humidity of 55% and strain static exposure of 20% and preferably a surface resistivity lower than 100 GΩ according to DIN EN 60079-32-2 and DVGW G 5621-3 (VP) measured at 1000 V and a maximum relative humidity of 30%.

A pipe stopper includes an expandable stopper body defining a stopper cavity and configurable in an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration; a pressure assembly comprising a pressure housing and a piston, the piston slidably engaged with a housing cavity of the pressure housing, the piston operatively connected to the expandable stopper body; and a locking assembly comprising a locking rod and a locking device, a lower end of the locking rod disposed within the housing cavity, the locking rod further comprising a rod engagement mechanism, the locking device comprising a locking engagement mechanism; wherein the locking device is configurable in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, and wherein, in the locked configuration, the locking engagement mechanism engages the rod engagement mechanism to lock the expandable stopper body in the expanded configuration.

A pipe stopper includes an expandable stopper body defining a stopper cavity and configurable in an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration; a pressure assembly comprising a pressure housing and a piston, the piston slidably engaged with a housing cavity of the pressure housing, the piston operatively connected to the expandable stopper body; and a locking assembly comprising a locking rod and a locking device, a lower end of the locking rod disposed within the housing cavity, the locking rod further comprising a rod engagement mechanism, the locking device comprising a locking engagement mechanism; wherein the locking device is configurable in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, and wherein, in the locked configuration, the locking engagement mechanism engages the rod engagement mechanism to lock the expandable stopper body in the expanded configuration.

A method of using a pipe stopper to stop fluid flow through a pipeline includes providing the pipe stopper, the pipe stopper comprising an expandable stopper body and a pressure assembly, the expandable stopper body configurable in an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration, the pressure assembly configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration and comprising a housing cavity; lowering the expandable stopper body of the pipe stopper into a pipe channel of the pipeline in the contracted configuration; orienting the pressure assembly in the open configuration, wherein an upper portion of the housing cavity is in fluid communication with an atmosphere external to the pipeline and a lower portion of the housing cavity is in fluid communication with the pipe channel; and biasing the expandable stopper body to the expanded configuration to block fluid flow through the pipe channel.

A method of using a pipe stopper to stop fluid flow through a pipeline includes providing the pipe stopper, the pipe stopper comprising an expandable stopper body and a pressure assembly, the expandable stopper body configurable in an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration, the pressure assembly configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration and comprising a housing cavity; lowering the expandable stopper body of the pipe stopper into a pipe channel of the pipeline in the contracted configuration; orienting the pressure assembly in the open configuration, wherein an upper portion of the housing cavity is in fluid communication with an atmosphere external to the pipeline and a lower portion of the housing cavity is in fluid communication with the pipe channel; and biasing the expandable stopper body to the expanded configuration to block fluid flow through the pipe channel.

Embodiments of a plugging tool (10) of this disclosure a control bar head (20) and at least one sealing head (30, 40) pivotally connected to the control bar head, the control bar head including a stress suppressor (50) located at a lower end (25) of the control bar head, the stress suppressor including an elastomeric element (51). The stress suppressor can act as a dual-stage suppressor, there being a primary (first stage) and a secondary (second stage) stress suppressor or zone (50A, 50B). The primary stress suppressor has an arched-shaped lowermost end (58) located between a pair of spaced-apart feet (21) of the control bar head, the feet having lateral edges (23) and comprising the secondary stress suppressor. During rotation of the tool into the pipe, stress to the pipe is reduced in a range of 5X to 14X relative to a plugging tool without the stress suppressor.

Embodiments of a plugging tool (10) of this disclosure a control bar head (20) and at least one sealing head (30, 40) pivotally connected to the control bar head, the control bar head including a stress suppressor (50) located at a lower end (25) of the control bar head, the stress suppressor including an elastomeric element (51). The stress suppressor can act as a dual-stage suppressor, there being a primary (first stage) and a secondary (second stage) stress suppressor or zone (50A, 50B). The primary stress suppressor has an arched-shaped lowermost end (58) located between a pair of spaced-apart feet (21) of the control bar head, the feet having lateral edges (23) and comprising the secondary stress suppressor. During rotation of the tool into the pipe, stress to the pipe is reduced in a range of 5X to 14X relative to a plugging tool without the stress suppressor.